Highmark Health: Balancing Layoffs and Growth in the Face of Changing Healthcare Needs

Highmark Health, a health insurer based in Pittsburgh, recently laid off 47 employees, including 11 in the central Pennsylvania region. This is in addition to the 182 layoffs that occurred in March, which included 40 employees in the Harrisburg area. Despite these layoffs, Highmark Health has been actively hiring as well. In 2023, they hired over 6,100 employees, reflecting a 2% year-over-year growth. They have already hired more than 1,300 employees this year.

The company stated that these layoffs are part of their efforts to transform and adapt to the changing needs of their members and communities through their Living Health model while maintaining financial stability. They are focused on reinventing their operations to achieve better patient experience, clinician satisfaction, health equity, and outcomes while lowering costs. To achieve this goal, they are working to build a workforce for the future by identifying talent gaps and investing in high-demand roles like nursing. Additionally, they are utilizing technologies such as AI to anticipate demand and provide value to consumers.

According to a Highmark spokesperson, the company is committed to providing quality healthcare services to its members while also addressing social determinants of health such as poverty and lack of access to healthcare for underserved populations. They recognize that achieving this requires ongoing innovation and adaptation in order to meet the evolving needs of their customers and communities.